Cotton-picking apparatus



A. D. AL'VIN.

COTTON FICKING APPARATUS. APPLlCATION man JULY 9. 1920.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921 4 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

A TTOHIVEYS A. D. ALVIN.

COTTON PICKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9.1920.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

4 SHEET$SHEET 2.

h NVENTQR 41 1114 Z zn WITNESSE we Q5. ATTORNEYS A. n. ALV IN.

COTTON PICKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1920- INVENTOR 1470 272 A TTOR/VEYS I M). ALVIN. COTTON PICKING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 9, 1920.

Patnted Nov. 8, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- 8% A 7 W mm QM w m INQENTOR A. D. A.Z0i*ra,

w/mkssm A TTORNEYS Di-- s1mss PAT ENT OFFICE Q ntnnynn n we, orlsnnhivronioprnxas, Assie von or ONEHALF 'ro I IFBEDERIGK:MJMU'ELLER, or SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

v To all whom it may] concern Be it known that I', ALLEYNE D. ALVIN, a? citizen of the' Unite d States, and a resident of San Antonio, in thelcounty of Be xar and State of Texas, have inventedcertai'n-new and useful [Improvements in Cotton-Picking Apparatus gof which the following is a V specification. I r

. positions within a row.

, I will describe one formof I 3 0 apparatus embodying myinvention and Wlll claims.

4O P r s thereof broken away 1 Fig- 4: -'s a horizontal longitudinal see' Myinvention relates to apparatus for picking cotton from the plants in p the field,

and a" purpose of myinvention is the provi sion of: an apparatus of "this jcharacter in which a pair of picking members are so constructed; supported and operated as ;to ef- 'fect af'complete removal of the cotton from' cotton picking then point out the novel" features thereof in -In the accompanying drawings:

r Figure l-is a view showing. in side elevation. one form of cotton picking apparatus embodying my invention. Y I

I Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 1. V Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the apparatus shown in the preceding views'with tional view takenonthe'lineM' of Fig. 1. Similar referencecharac'ters referto suni lar parts in each ofthe several views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention in its' present embodiment comprises a chassis constituted'of a rectangular plate orfloor 15 tothe underside of which is secured a tubular .rod 16 'at a point along the. longitudinal axis oftthev plateg 'lhe Specification of Letters Patent; Application filed July 9,

. oor'ron-rioxme APPARATUS.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 395,091.

Chassis issupported for'movementover the ground by means of wheels W and WV, the wheels I constituting the steering wheels of the apparatus and the wheels VW constituting'ithe driving means for the picker member, as will'be more clearly described 1 hereinafter. The chassis is supportedfor "vertical adjustment upon the wheels 3V and 'W by means of channel bars '17 which are secured at theirupper ends to cross bars 18 secured to the opposite'ends of therod l6 in themanner clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Threadedly fitted withinlthe cross bars 18 and extending intothe, channel bars 17 are screw-threaded shafts 19 provided at their upper ends with actuating wheels 20 for rotating the same in one direction or another. Embracing the 'shaftslQand slidably fitted within the channelbars 17 are blocks 21 formed with threaded bores to receive the shafts,-as will be understood. The

blocks 2l"-have fixed thereto stub'axles 22 naled. I Y Y By this arrangement it will be seen that when'the shafts 19 are rotated in one direcs upon which the wheels W. and W are jourtion or the other through the medium of V p the wheels 20, an upward or downward feeding of the same through theblocks 21' is e'f fected so as to cause an elevation or lowering of the chassis with respect to the wheels. As

- the cross bars 18 are loosely fitted on the rod 16,]it' will be apparent that tIlflCljHStIHGIlt of one side or of one end of the chassis can be effected independently of the other. This permits of the supporting of the chassis in such manner that the apparatus can be operated over cottonplants irrespective of the inclination of the land.

My invention includes picking. members andcleaning members which are adapted to be actuated by a mechanismndriven by the wheels W To this end I provide the wheels W with adjustable gears 23 that mesh "with beveled 'pinions 2 1 fixed; to the lower ends of a pair of shaft's25 and 25a. The shafts 25 are journaled at their lower.

ends in arms 27 fiXedto the corresponding blocks 21. The'shafts 25 and 25 are also slidably fittedwithin the hangers 26 next. tothe plate 15; Keyed'on the shafts 25 and .ing 41?v is withdrawn from and conveyedto suitable receptacle (not-shown) by a pipe 144' in which a draft is created by;means' of a ian (nQt h W ner as the fan 43.

operated in the same man- 1 In the present instance Ihave shown the driving mechanism for. the picking-member P andthecleaning 'member Gas actuated .by one of-the driving wheelsW, while the 7 As shown in Fig.2, .the1chain-29 isv also trained about a sprocket wheel 45 which meshes withasprocket wheel 46 fixedto the upper end ofa'shaft 35. The two stretches of-the chain 29- aretrained about similar sprocket wheels 47 I so as to properlytension and position the chain upon the chassis,

aswill bennderstood. Through this niecha- Y nism, a driving of the picklng member is effected in the direction of the arrowin Fig.4 so that the hooks 37 when engaging a cotton plant passing through the. slot; 31 move in the direction of the 'plant. The cleaning member C is driventhrough' a cog wheel .48jwhich meshes with a relatively large cog wheel 49 fixed .to' theshaft 35. The cog wheel-48 isfixedtothe shaft 38 and thus efl'ectsxrotation of the cleaning member in the reverse direction of the pickilng member as indicated by the arrow in or drivingathe fan 43,a shaft 50 is provided to the 'lowerend of'which is fixed a sprocket wheel 51. which isembraced by an endless chain 52 that is also trained about the sprocket wheel 53 fixed to the shaft 38.

As indicated by thearrows in- Fig. 4, the picking member is rotated in a counter clockwise directionorrin a direction reverse to the direction of rotation 'of the picking member P.1 Such? direction of rotation. is for the purpose ofcausing-the hooks of the picking memberP to move in the direction of movement of the cotton plant passing through the, S101; 31*. The cleaning mem ber C is moved in a counterclockwise direction or the reverse of'the picking member P. 4

. The operation of the: entire apparatus is.

asfollows V .Whenthe I ofcotton plants, the forward pair of guide fingers V are caused to ,successively 3' engage apparatus is drawn over a roweachcottonplant at a point adjacent the base of thejstalk and tothus laterally shift the entire frame F so as to positionsuch frame centrallvof the cotton plant. Upon continued movement of the apparatus, each cotton plant traverses the slot 32 passing over .the roller 34, such roller preventing bruising or injuring the branches of the plant in any way, as. has been described. From the roller 34, the plant engages the guide plateg42, and because of the curvature of the latter :abending oflthe' plant to the left,-as. whenviewed in Fig. 4, is effected.

As thecotton plantnormally tends to assume a substantially; vertical position, it will be apparent that when bent: to the side, itwill "be under tension, and as the guide plate 42 extends into close proximity with the hooks 37 of the picking. member P, the plant will be in bent position when engaged by the picking member so as to force the plant into engagement with the hooks." With the pick ingmember P rotating in the direction of thearrow, it. will be'clear that thehooks' 37 are caused to successively engage; and thereby remove the cotton-from the plant, and as the picking extends substantially the entire h'eightfof theplant, a complete removal of 'thercotton from oneqside of the-plant is eifected; The, cotton-is subsequently removed from the hooks 37 by-the cleaning member C,;it being'n'oted that, from afconsideration of the driving mechanism previously described, the cleaning member rotatessubstantially at three times the speed of the picking member thifiscausing'the s'everal brushes 40 to wipe the bills of the hooks 37 in the direction'of their free ends and thereby effecting a iremoval of thecotton fromj'the hooks. The cotton removedfrom the picking member P is deposited to the lower end of the casing 41 and removed in the pipe 44 ashas been described. 7

-Upon continued movement of the apparatusover'the row of cotton plants, each plant upon passing. the pickingmember P' roller 34 prevents injury to the branches of the plant as it engages the guide plate 42*. In a manner similar to that'describedv in connection with the picking member P,

each plant traverses the guide plate 42* passing into the slot 31 and: upon leaving the guide plate engages the picking member P. The picking member P" also rotating in theg'directionin which the plant'moves efiects aremoval of the cotton from the op-- posite side of; the plant, and such plant being held nder tension causes the hooks.

' to: engage and'r emovethe cotton as will-be "understood.- The eleaning member C? f'u n'etions to remove the cotton from the hooks in the same manner as the eleaninginemher-Ci:

L-From theforegoingbperation, it will be manifest that my apparatus provides means :for succe'ssive'ly bending a plurality of cottoin plants first to one side and 'then'the other,- and eflecting-arenioval of the cotton.

therefrom i first-from one sideiand then the other While the'plant'sare helcliinder tension, As this" operatioiris'automatie throughout,

it will be eleai' that all that i 'nec'essaryis for the operator "to properly position the apparatlis ith're'sp'eet to a row' of cotton :7 plants and to then move the apparatus; overtherow; If the'incli'nation of the-land over which the 'apparathsis' traveling is such as to prevent the frames F occupying the V properposition so'that the picking members may'pjroperly funetion, an adjustmentofthe apparatnsean'be readily effected by manage,

lation of the 'v'vli'elsQO tqproperlyposition the chassis with respect to the wheels;

wheels, a ehassis supportedby said wheels and vertically adjustablethereon, frg-u'nes [suppo ted fonswinging' movement' am the 7 V chassis, said fi-am'es' beingarrangedbne in 7 advance of the other-and having al ned slots formed therein, pieking rollersjournaled in said frames and extending 17 70 said slots;

" c'leaning rollers journaledin, said frames 7 andassocia-ted' with said picking rollers for effecting aremoval of-the cottonther'e'from,

guard platesypartially surrounding-all of said rollers guide fingersarranged n ad-' Vance oij said frames for guiding the plants into Sai -Slo s, guide plates above said guide by said Wheels for aetuating all rollers and said conVeying means 7 7 =2. A' cottonpicking apparatus eomp ris-;

" fingers and inadvanee'of'said picking rollers; pneumatic conveymg means associated with said" Cleaning rollers, and meansloperable of s d.

ing'; Wheels; a chassis Vertically adjustable on said heels, frames supported; for swinging" movement transversely of the ohassls, said frames being arranged one 111' advalioe of the other and formed With alined slots extending longitudinally of thechassi's, rotatable pick,-

7 in}; membersljournaled in the frames, rota table cleaning members associated Withthe-j picking members, means en ageable with the base of eottonplants for guiding the latter 1 intosaid slotS;f-means for gnidihg and bendsaid- ,eleaningmembers'.

i v ofo? swinging movement transversely pffth chassis-a d arrangedte 'engageofiist (meg-side and then the other ofa cotton plant; wheels ing the plants o hat flieysiic ssiiely r cupy positions paralleliith 'respe'ct stofthe members," and means eperable 'by ow ee'ls' for actuating said piek 3. "A eot-ton piek-ing appara ing, a heel supported :chas's'is sis, said members occupying go positlyim :tatable pick ng: m mbers 7 supported for swinging movement transversely of the ehas-i 7 5 clined positions and arrang'ed'i'o iej ina'd 7 comprising a roller and jpicking 'heoks exteilding radially from saidfoller' their bills extending in theidireetion Of retation of the roller, rotatable cleaning members engageable with "saidooks;maas'forgguidg V vance of "the other, each of; saieymembers o ing cotton plants int suece siveen agement with 'said picking mmbefi an'd me-ans io'i" actuating athe pieking member's and: the a-cleaning members to caiise thfe hooks of the former to .move in the same directien asthe cotton plants when engaging :s'u hfplanta; and i013 eatlsinglhe"clanillg fiiembfs to; move in the same'directiion asfsaiamwks at the. point of engagement with said 11601:;

ea- 1 to p c in ,ar ara i I ing, a wheel supported chassis; a' -fra'i'rie ii mounted for swingingmovement; 1tr'a'ns:

YerseIy of the 'oehassis; T: a 'rotiatableipicliing' member j ournaled'in ithe raine and ceupy:

ingaan inc'lined p'ositio ivith i re'spectto the '7 vertical, a rotatable oleaiiingiii einbefadapt ed to en age the pi' kiiig inembe1 guide; fin

ger's secured tqtheba eef said-frame and adapted to engage the 'c'otton' plantslat 1 theirbase forJ-guidingthe'same into's ai'd slot; a 1

guide plate anangedabove the guidefingere and Curved toicau'se the "cotton plante ;vto 0e;-

c'iipy aparallel position "With-respect to the picking members andmeans fol i'irotating' 7 said pieking; and cleaning" members repposite directions and at difierent speedsf'f i '5. A'cotton pic king'; a paratus eomprising; a -chas'sifs, fpieki ng1'membersfsupported for iswing'ing movement traiisverse'ly of; the

chassis, said members being I arranged to en age firsto'ne side and; then the other of 'a' cotton plant, wheelsffoi support-I ingthe-chas'sis', mechai'iism-ioperablebyfsaid means for Vertically adj usting said chassis oiis'aidwheels; aiidieomprising', chann'elibarsfixed to j the chassis screw-threaded shafts Within -said;:ba 1s;" shrew-threaded bloeks" en:

block's andsupporting said Wheels;

e. A cqttqnpicking apparatus e ompr'is' a chassis, "picking members" s'iipported for *supporting'gth'e iehassisgand" mechanism operate by the w'heelsf for} actfiatingithe pieklfig members e'o'rhprisiii'g ge rs fixedfto Wheels for operating said" members,

ioo

' said Wheels, shafts vertically movable on the chassis, and beveled gears fixed to said shaft and engageable'with the first beveled gears.

7. A cotton picking apparatus comprising; a chassis, rotatable picking members supported for independent swinging. movement transversely of the chassis and arranged one behind the other, means for guid- 7' a ing cotton plants into engagement with'said members comprising divergently arranged 10 guide fingers, Wheels for supporting the chassis; and means for vertically adjusting the chassis with respect to said wheels to vary the vertical positionof the picking members and said guiding means. 7' i ALLEYNE- D. ALVIN. 

